Harvey had always been the heart and soul of the baseball team. His blond hair often peeked out from under his cap, and his warm brown eyes sparkled with determination every time he walked across the field. His laid-back demeanor and perpetual grin, which showcased his dimple, made him a favorite among his teammates and coaches. Every time he stepped onto the diamond, the world around him seemed to melt away. He would forget the fact that his parents were constantly fighting, and his parents' financial struggles would slip away. The roar of the crowd, the crack of the bat, and the smell of freshly cut grass wrapped around him like a warm embrace, offering him solace in the world.

Harvey, however, had just broken his foot. Some would argue that it was due to his sheer stupidity, some would argue that it was inevitable. Select few would say, what happened was just simply meant to happen. At the end of the day, all that mattered was the devastating impact it would have on the remaining baseball season.

Baseball was everything to him, he had spent the better half of last season trying to engage with college recruiters. A few of them had been scouting him; they had even gone so far as to conduct home interviews, showering his family with praises of his potential. Harvey had always envisioned himself stepping onto a college field, not just as an athlete but as someone who could finally escape the pressures of home. If athletics weren't a viable way out, he had to find another way to go to college. Maybe he could get insanely smart overnight and get a scholarship.

Except, Harvey wasn't the brightest student but his lack of smarts were made up his athletic ability, his charm, charisma and what he would call — his pure awesomeness.

Monday morning had found him hobbling his way around the school with crutches. He was surrounded by his two best friends, who were doing their best to keep his spirits high. Despite the obvious pain and frustration of being sidelined, Harvey's grin never wavered. His blond hair, perfectly tousled as always, and his honey eyes still exuded that laid-back approach everyone loved.

The bell rang, and he very carefully pushed the door open and entered the tutor office. There was a line for six or so people, so he hopped over to the counter, dropping his backpack on the floor to hold his spot in line. There was no way he was going to stand there balancing on crutches. His leg was aching, but he wasn't one to make it a big deal; he plopped on the bench along the wall, his crutches taking the seat next to him. He took a deep breath, observing the line and willing it to go any faster. He wanted to get this over with— every second he was here was worsening his reputation.

Harvey looked up, mentally counting the people in line. His counting was interrupted by the door opening. A boy with gently combed brown hair, his piercing blue eyes, and an easy grin stepped in, closing the door behind him. Harvey hadn't seen him around much, but he recognized him from the hallways. There was a sense of charm in the way this boy carried himself, and Harvey found himself thinking he was kind of cute.

Just then, the boy nonchalantly kicked Harvey's backpack out of line with a swift motion of his foot, sending it skidding dramatically across the polished floor and underneath Harvey's chair.

"Hey! No cuts! You're behind my backpack; it's holding my place in line!" Harvey protested, his voice a bubbling mix of surprise and irritation.

The boy shot back, an amused glint in his eye. "Sorry, but there's no holding places in line."

The unexpected retort caught Harvey off guard, momentarily stalling his indignation. He couldn't help but let a playful frown creep onto his face. "It's my helper backpack, I'm very much injured."

The brown haired boy replied smiling, "No, you're not. You're just lazy. I saw you vault over two trash cans on the way here."

"Are you saying I'm faking? Because my injuries are very much real! I might be out for the whole rest of the baseball season. Everyone's freaking out," Harvey exclaimed.

"Oh yeah? Me too. I'm just hiding it behind not caring at all," the boy replied, smirking.

"Actually, I'm co-founder of the Trivia Club and the photographer for the school paper," the boy still standing in line stated, a hint of pride in his voice.

As the line continued to move forward, Harvey swayed slightly, unsure if he should admire the boy's enthusiasm or roll his eyes at the unexpected twist in their conversation. Perhaps the situation was ridiculous enough to lighten his mood—after all, battling an alleged line-cutter was hardly the worst thing that could happen on Monday morning. He couldn't shake the flutter of attraction he felt whenever this boy looked his way. It wasn't just the brown haired boys confidence—it was his relaxed demeanor that somehow made the anxiety of the morning melt away.

Harvey's mind raced. He wondered if the boy, with his easy confidence and unexpected roles, could become a new friend—or perhaps something more. The tension in the air was palpable, but so was the budding curiosity.

Harvey's thoughts were interrupted when the kid had made it to the front of the line. The tutor teacher spoke loud and confidently, her voice a little nasally, "Harvey Specter? Your assigned tutor is Mike Ross. Oh great! I see that you guys have already gotten to know each other."

Mike stood there for a moment, his mouth forming into a smirk, "Oh, and in my spare time, I like to tutor dumb jocks."

Harvey raised his eyebrows, his mind trying to wrap around what just happened. Cute boy was gonna tutor him?

"I'll see you after school for the session," Mike said, giving him a slight nod and making his way outside.

"Yeah, sure," Harvey mumbled, momentarily captivated by the warmth of Mike's smile as he stepped away to chat with a few other students. The lighthearted moment lingered in his mind, and as he took a deep breath, he found himself keeping a mental note: maybe this tutoring session wouldn't be so bad —he wanted to do well, if only to prove to Mike that he was more than what rumors suggested.